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hey i was driving around today looking for some good fields and i came across 2 right next to each other seperated by a house that had some beautiful cubes in it. I found an area where i could get in one of the fields but it didnt have that many i could see. I was just wondering why not just ask the farmer if i can search his field."hi sir my name is matt and i was wondering to see if i could browse your field for some "gourmet/edible" mushrooms? It is a hobby i have." would that be a stupid idea or should i go for it?

Usually I always try to ask the property owner permission before I go hunt on their lands. This usually makes things a lot less stressful and suspicious. On the other hand, they can say no and then boom you just lost the chance of getting all those mushrooms, because now if you do go on there after you asked and they said no, you are probably gonna have a good chance of getting screwed.

As for what to say, there are a few things I have thought of. I really havent had many chances to try many of them out though, as I am a pretty shy person, and just generally stick to more public grounds. Here are my ideas (other people who have more experience in asking, pitch in and give your opinions if you can). Something along the lines of saying you are a student in mycology looking for a certain species of mushroom whose habitat may very well be in your property or something. Im not really sure how to convince him that you arent looking for active mushrooms though if the farmer were to get suspicious of such activity.

--------------------Radio is down for a day or two to transfer all my music, and do some other work.

fuck the bullshit talk... farmers arnt cops, just tell him what you are doin. the first time i met my fields land owner i simply asked if i may for look for mushroom in his field if i picked up the trash as well. he was glad that i asked and lets me come when ever i want. if he still wont let u search offer like 10 bux... u make alot more than 10 dollars in a days worth of picking trust me... and if the answer is still no, just go back at about 2:30a.m. and jump the fence and search anyways... but always ask first.

wear a backpack and a bandana and say that you are searcing for arrowheads. show them a couple arrowheads that you previously bought in the discovery store and tell him that u found them earlier in the day. also take a small shovel and go by yourself. fill your backpack up with cubes and leave.

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"Truth is more in the process than in the result."
- J. Krishnamurti

"We ourselves are not an illusory part of Reality; rather are we Reality itself illusorily conceived." Wei Wu Wei

Asking is definately the way to go. I find some farmers give me the evil eye and say "No!" , but most are happy that you asked. Reasure him you will respect his property. Honesty in itself will make you more comfortable talking to him.

--------------------"That's why you get in close to them, and then take the picture!! Don't be a pussy!" ~CC

"Hi, My name is(slim shady), and I am a local mycologist searching the area for any specimens I can spore print, gill index, and otherwise Identify. I was driving in the area and noticed your field. I was wondering if I could look around and see if I can gather any samples."

Then they will say something.

Then say

" I will make sure to close all gates behind me and respect your property, and will be out of here within 30 minutes."

never failed.

--------------------these long agonizing months without you...have been long and agonizing..
"War Doesn't Decide Who's Right... It Only Decides Who's Left."

Yes, don't lie to people.. Don't say you are 'fishing' or 'gathering arrowheads' or whatever. Stick to the truth, but sugar coat the fuck out of it. Never admit to picking actives, and stay looking clean cut and be sober. Charm goes a long way.

--------------------these long agonizing months without you...have been long and agonizing..
"War Doesn't Decide Who's Right... It Only Decides Who's Left."

Also, a camera will go a LONG way to backing up your 'mycologist' story, which is not really a story when you think about it , but I've never had a camera on me, although I mention taking pictures and they say it's fine, and it will always aid my case. I swear I've asked for permission about 75 times and only been turned down about 5... and 4 out of 5 of those times, it was because the field had more than one bull in it, and the owner did not want to be liable

--------------------these long agonizing months without you...have been long and agonizing..
"War Doesn't Decide Who's Right... It Only Decides Who's Left."

- Remain professional- Use terms like 'mycology' 'spore print' 'gill index'- Dress casual but not raggedy- Look them in the eye always when speaking- have a wild mushroom identification guide handy- offer to mail or email them a report of the mushrooms found on their land once you identify all found specimens (most people say no to this)

--------------------these long agonizing months without you...have been long and agonizing..
"War Doesn't Decide Who's Right... It Only Decides Who's Left."

in my town theres a neighborhood where u buy like 2 acres of land in case u want a horse. i know a lot of people in this neighborhood and if i dont know the horse owner i wait until they arent home....or say im very intrested in becoming a mycoligist and am studying up on mushrooms, and i know that a certain species grows in horse pastures. some dont care and are like yea come by whenever just tell me first and some say make it quick kid. horses are safer than cows i beleive.

Well, 70/75 is just a guess, but put it this way: Out of two years shroom hunting and COUNTLESS times asking for permission, it's pretty damn rare for me to get turned down..The point is, if you practice it in your mind, have charm, and follow a few simple rules, it's pretty fail proof.Keep in mind I do most of my hunting at horse fields, and horse owners are WAY easier to storm over than a cow owner, just because of the stigma attached to cow fields.Good luck

--------------------these long agonizing months without you...have been long and agonizing..
"War Doesn't Decide Who's Right... It Only Decides Who's Left."

What about asking him if you can check his fence for him?&#12288;As the fenceposts get old, and the staples fall out, the wires come away and the farmer's in shit because he has to walk the fenceline once in a while just to make sure his cows aren't going to breach at some point. Actually now that I think of it, offer to check a length of fence, cause going right around is going to be way too much work. On the the other hand, if you do the thorough check, you are going to find places down in the sloughs where cows stand around and crap, places where you normally wouldn't go.Anyway, now that I have written all this I am thinking maybe all the southeast American farmers were not hillbillies like where I grew up. (I have fixed a fence or two myself.) Maybe they have satellite positioning for fence fixing now too.Wallace

Quote:hot48yearolds said:wear a backpack and a bandana and say that you are searcing for arrowheads. show them a couple arrowheads that you previously bought in the discovery store and tell him that u found them earlier in the day. also take a small shovel and go by yourself. fill your backpack up with cubes and leave.